We had that issue with Dexter. He isn't really a barker. Especially when it comes to the doorbell. I have one way that might work for your boy Joel!
Teach him to speak (if he doesn't already know how). Then have someone who is willing to stand outside and ring the doorbell for you (though I know that might be very cold where you live). Once he knows the speak command, ask him to speak every time the person outside rings the doorbell & reward him with a treat. Eventually ... remove the actual command "speak" and continue to reward him for barking when he hears the bell ring. I think if done properly he will eventually relate the sound of the door bell ringing to the barking command.
I think teaching them to speak is the hard part LOL ... I had to bark at my dogs like a fool to get them to learn the command. |